The Cowboy’s Twin Surprise by K.T. Byington

October 24, 2019 By Leave a Comment


The Cowboy’s Twin Surprise by K.T. Byington
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Full length (177 pages)
Heat Level: Sweet
Rating: 3.5 stars
Reviewed by Fern

When a little surprise changes her life, Jessie McKinnon has less than nine months to figure it out. A job at Chase Tanner’s ranch seems like a good short-term fix until she can get herself settled elsewhere, hopefully before she even begins to show.

Left to care for his abandoned twin baby nieces, Chase can’t believe his luck when Jessie offers hope of reining in the chaos his life has become. There’s only one problem—the feisty redhead from his past has the potential to break his heart all over again.

Jessie couldn’t believe it when she bumped into her old crush, Chase, at the employment office. Even less could she believe the two adorable twin toddler girls Chase had in tow. Chase has been struggling since his sister decided she couldn’t handle being a mother to her one year old twin girls anymore and left them with Chase. He’s determined to do right by his nieces, but he hardly knows anything about caring for two small children, so meeting Jessie again seemed like sweet serendipity.

I found this to be a lovely, sweet and slow-moving romance. I enjoyed how both Chase and Jessie weren’t simplistic characters, but complicated and had a number of different layers. Even though they had grown up together and knew each other well they’d each continued along their own path – Jessie going into the big city to become a lawyer and Chase taking over his family land – and so there was still plenty the two could learn about each other as adults.

I also found a lot of comfort and enjoyment out of the plot. While not fresh or unique in any way, there’s something lovely about reading a well-known type of tale – childhood friends returning home, re-establishing the connection always burning between them, adapting and embracing the circumstances find each other in. Add in some adorable kids and adjusting to life as responsible adults and there was plenty I found to keep me eagerly turning the pages.

I could understand if some readers might be disappointed that there wasn’t anything particularly new or fresh to this story, but I believe that readers interested in a comfortable, well-written and slow paced sweet romance should find plenty here to enjoy. Even the areas of conflict – Jessie hiding a pretty important secret and the drama of inter-family jealousies – were well-worn plots but didn’t have me too concerned as a reader, knowing everything would settle down and come right. I also found the balance between the plot and conflict, and the slow-burning growth of the romance between Jessie and Chase was handled very well by the author and really sold me on how lovely this story as a whole was.

With interesting, complicated characters, a well-known storyline and plenty of interest from the cast of youngsters I found this to be an enjoyable small-town, family-orientated style of full length story and one I really enjoyed. Recommended.

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That April in Santa Monica by Melody DeBlois

October 17, 2019 By 3 Comments


That April in Santa Monica by Melody DeBlois
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Full (365 pgs)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rated: 4 stars
Review by Poppy

Madison receives acclaim for running a talent agency for people with disabilities, but she doesn’t know how to take care of herself. When her altruism becomes life-threatening—a matter of either develop healthy habits or die—she joins a reality TV show that pairs her with hot, raven-haired Brandon. He is witty, sexy, and her teacher. That makes him off limits.

After a successful run on a soap opera, Brandon stepped away from empty fame and now focuses on his work as TV’s most noted health teacher. He has one fast rule—never fall for a student. But when he meets Madison, their chemistry is combustible. There’s no hiding their conflict or their attraction, especially when it’s all caught on film.

This was a fun, sweet book full of good times and love… and not just between our H/h.

Madison was an interesting, realistic character. Honestly, she reminded me a little of me: driven, fueled by caffeine, seldom slowing down to relax and consider life. This catches up to her as the story opens, and we meet her as she’s slowly coming to after fainting. Her rescuer is guru Brandon, there to try to talk her into slowing down before she kills herself.

Through a series of events, Madison (Maddie) is convinced to take part in his reality show and become his next student project. Here’s where things slowed down a little for me. I get that his job is to teach her his life practices, but a lot of the time it read more like a yoga or meditation textbook than a romance. While I understood the point of it, it felt a bit preachy at times. Thankfully, Madison lightened things up with her jokes, cheeseburger references and hidden cell phone.

Over time, they actual ended up teaching each other and learning lessons they didn’t expect. I gotta say, having hidden cameras every freaking place but the bathroom would drive me batty. Madison wasn’t a huge fan either, but she dealt with it better than I would have.

Although the heat level is technically spicy. the presence of cameras everywhere and Brandon’s determination not to get involved with a student means they don’t even kiss for the first couple hundred pages. There’s tension, to be sure, and their attraction is clear, but don’t grab this book expecting lots of smexy times. Even the heat between the sheets is very tastefully described, clear but more emotionally than physically. This is not a complaint from me at all… I tend to skip the sex in books unless it forwards the plot somehow, so I enjoyed it. Give me tension any day!

The secondary characters here were a lot of fun, too, from the folks on Brandon’s crew, to Maddie’s crazy family. The author skillfully created a whole pack of people who were interesting, entertaining and unique. Speaking of the author and her writing, it was smooth, easy to read and I never tripped over anything that made my experience stutter or stopped me in my tracks. Well done!

All in all a pretty solid story. Yes, it’s a romance, but it’s almost more women’s fiction or contemporary fiction with romantic elements. Lots of soul searching and life changes here. A good, solid read with well written characters and a solid, believeable plot. What more could a reader want? Recommended.

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The Rebound Effect by Linda Griffin

October 7, 2019 By Leave a Comment


The Rebound Effect by Linda Griffin
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Genre: Contemporary, Suspense/Mystery
Length: Full Length (220 pgs)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 3.5 stars
Reviewed by Mistflower

In the small town of Cougar, struggling single mother and veterinary assistant Teresa Lansing is still bruised from a failed relationship when Frank McAllister sweeps her off her feet. Frank is a big-city SWAT officer who moved to Cougar only four months ago. He’s handsome, charming, forceful, very sexy, and a bit mysterious. He had his eye on Teresa even before they met and is pushing for a serious relationship right away. Teresa finds his intense courtship flattering, and the sex is fabulous, but she doesn’t want her deaf six-year-old son to be hurt again. Her former fiancé cheated on her when he got drunk after being unjustly fired, but he loves her and her son, and the whirlwind romance is complicated by his efforts to win Teresa back. And then there’s the matter of the bodies buried at Big Devil Creek…

There is no way in a million years that I would have guessed how this story was going to end. For that reason alone this book is worth the time to read. It is more of a psychological thriller romance than a suspense/mystery romance.
The synopsis does a really good job giving you an idea what this book is about. What it doesn’t tell you is that the reader isn’t left with a typical happily ever after. There is a twist that left me feeling like a pretzel with no book boyfriend to dream about. However, the story was uniquely refreshing.

The story was a well written attention-gripping page turner from beginning to end. Given the circumstances I will say that the heroine, Teresa, was really the only character that I related to with out giving away spoilers. She was the one consistent character through out the book.

I can say that this book is like no other that I’ve read. I’m pretty sure this is the shortest review that I’ve ever written but I’m limited to what I can say because I don’t want to spoil anything. Just go pick up a copy and find out for yourself why this book is one of a kind.

Filed Under: Mainstream Fiction, Mystery/Suspense, Reviews, Romance Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

The Fog Ladies by Susan McCormick

September 25, 2019 By 2 Comments


The Fog Ladies by Susan McCormick
A San Francisco Cozy Murder Mystery
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Genre: Suspense/Mystery, Contemporary
Length: Full length (321 pages)
Rating: 4.5 Stars
Reviewed by Poinsettia

Voted BoM by LASR Readers 2013 copy

Young, overworked, overtired, overstressed medical intern Sarah James has no time for sleuthing. Her elderly neighbors, the spunky Fog Ladies, have nothing but time. When, one by one, old ladies die in their elegant apartment building in San Francisco, Sarah assumes the deaths are the natural consequence of growing old. The Fog Ladies assume murder.

Mrs. Bridge falls off a stool cleaning bugs out of her kitchen light. Mrs. Talwin slips on bubbles in the bath and drowns. Suddenly, the Pacific Heights building is turning over tenants faster than the fog rolls in on a cool San Francisco evening.

Sarah resists the Fog Ladies’ perseverations. But when one of them falls down the stairs and tells Sarah she was pushed, even Sarah believes evil lurks in their building. Can they find the killer before they fall victim themselves?

Why would anyone want to harm the Fog Ladies?

The Fog Ladies are certainly an interesting cast of characters! This diverse group of women is by far my favorite part of the book. Some of the women are more likable than others. My favorites are Mrs. Noonan and Mrs. Gordon. Mrs. Noonan is such a steadying influence within the group. She is very level headed and a much-needed source of comfort for Sarah as she struggles through her internship. Mrs. Noonan is also a wonderful cook and shares her delicious dishes freely. It is one of the ways she shows she cares about those around her. I could practically smell the food she prepared as I read.

Mrs. Gordon is such a sweet, caring soul. She has a gentleness about her that is very endearing. As with Mrs. Noonan, Mrs. Gordon cares deeply for those in need, though she doesn’t have Mrs. Noonan’s confidence. However, Mrs. Gordon under goes a bit of a transformation during the course of the story. I won’t spill too many details, but I will say that Mrs. Gordon finds herself in a situation where she needs to take on an unexpected responsibility. Rather than shrink from the challenge, she rises to the occasion and blossoms in her new found role.

Mrs. Carmichael is also an extremely colorful character! She’s a terrible gossip and is as bold and brash as Mrs. Gordon is timid. I couldn’t help but laugh at her antics, especially when she discovers the joy of Starbucks! She can’t resist poking her head into other people’s business and this gets her into some serious trouble. Unfortunately, I don’t think Mrs. Carmichael has learned her lesson.

I must admit I was able to solve the mystery before I reached the end of the book. There were a few false, though very interesting leads, but I was able to sort through the facts and get to the heart of the matter. I still enjoyed watching Sarah and the rest of the Fog Ladies unravel the mystery. I was on the edge of my seat wondering when and how they would finally fit the pieces of the puzzle together. I also really enjoyed the ending. Again, I can’t say much without spoiling the plot, but I will say an unexpected hero played an integral part in bringing down the culprit.

I had so much fun reading The Fog Ladies. Fans of cozy mysteries would do well to pick up a copy of this thoroughly entertaining book.

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Home to Me by LaVerne Clark

August 29, 2019 By Leave a Comment


Home to Me by LaVerne Clark
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Full length (220 pages)
Heat Level: Hot
Rating: 3.5 stars
Reviewed by Mistflower

Home after years living overseas, Lucy Caldwell makes a shocking confession to her best friend. She could live without sex for the rest of her life and never miss it. She doesn’t realize the man she’s loved forever is in the bar and overhears her alcohol-fueled admission.

Samuel Merrick is horrified when the passionate “brat” he’d once known declares herself frigid. Upon discovering her emotional scars stem from a traumatic event she tried to bury, he vetoes the girlfriends’ dangerous scheme of finding a man to help her rediscover her sexuality, offering to fill the role of lover himself.

What starts as a no-strings arrangement to keep her safe soon becomes an all-consuming passion neither of them is prepared for. Fire burns out of control between them, threatening the very fabric of the friendship they hold so dear. Once the ashes have cooled, will there be anything left to salvage?

The synopsis says “Fire burns out of control between them” “Once the ashes have cooled, will there be anything left to salvage?” I’m not sure when the fire ever went out for the ashes to cool. The sexual teasing between the hero and heroine caused such sexual tension I’m surprised my book didn’t melt in my hands.

I’ve read some hot books in the past and I normally never point out heat levels in my reviews but this story was consistently, effectively, hot. There was heavy sexual tension consistently from beginning to end and it was strong enough that I felt it worth mentioning. If readers enjoy material verging on explicit then this story delivers.

The synopsis is the plot. There aren’t any surprise plot twists or other complex scenarios with depth threaded throughout the story but I thought the plot concept sounded interesting enough, and is why I read it. I just thought there’d be more of it. If not for the traumatic event that the heroine, Lucy, endured, then this book would have had nothing to hold it together. Speaking of this traumatic event, I think there should have been a warning to the reader at the beginning of the book regarding the sensitive matter. I credit the author with writing about this traumatic event with respect, compassion and empathy. I don’t have an issue with the topic matter, but I would have appreciated a heads up.

Samuel was a wonderful hero and easy to feel romantic about. His commitment to family and his caring personality to others were a huge draw for me. I’m thankful Lucy had Samuel to help her with her issue. They were destined to be together since childhood. I liked Lucy and found her easy to relate to and together as a couple, I was pleased to see their love for each other blossom. Even better, I do believe they loved each other emotionally, not just physically. I thought it was cute that several of the secondary characters figured out Samuel and Lucy loved each other much sooner than they did themselves.

If you need some inspiration and are looking for something to read to put you in the mood, then this book has the heat to help you get your motors running. I definitely was concerned about overheating myself. I’d recommend this book to those who are comfortable with a romance with a hot rating and all that goes along with it. Just have ice handy.

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Lupine by Serena Dracis

August 27, 2019 By Leave a Comment


Lupine by Serena Dracis
Publisher: The Wild Rose Pres
Genre: Paranormal, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Contemporary
Length: Full length (223 pages)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 4.5 stars
Reviewed by Dryas

Alisa Nelson’s life is simply perfect—fight for the environment and party in Seattle’s club scene. Until Geremy St. Audlin, her scrumptious new client rocks her world. Her goal: get the permits finalized for his new wolf preserve, then get him out of her life. Before his piercing amber gaze and searing touch lures her into breaking her cardinal rule—never mix business with pleasure! Geremy is immediately captivated by Alisa’s sultry sensuality. He wants the crusading, passionate woman not the frosty attorney. He pulls her into the beautiful but dangerous world of the lupine en-malat. While in the Other, beyond the Veil, his Pack confronts an ancient menace. What should have been a simple case turns deadly, and Alisa is now in a fight for her life. Will Geremy be able to show her that love and tenderness can still prevail in the wild realms of the Other?

Alisa Nelson is visiting a local bookstore where she notices an incredibly hot man. What she doesn’t expect is to meet him again when she goes to her new job at the Foundation, as they needed a lawyer who specializes in wildlife law and natural resources. Geremy St. Audlin also recognizes her from the bookstore and had actually followed her to her office to see if their attraction would lead to some fun. What he didn’t expect is how deep the connection between them and her scent drives him mad and enjoys teasing her and enjoying the different scent. He makes sure that she can see the heat in his eyes and the excitement the hunt.

The characters are well developed, with Alisa and Jeremy fitting each other like two pieces of a puzzle. She tries to keep up her business personality that she has developed over time. She is known as the Ice Queen to others but never could keep up that façade with him. Jeremy adores how strong, confident, and witty she is, giving him a challenge that perked the interest of himself and his brothers. What he also admires is her ability and willingness to do whatever is needed to complete a project, especially one that is close to her heart.

Jeremy is a werewolf but is different from the normal portrayal of werewolves. What I would have liked was more explanation about the three sides of each werewolf. I wasn’t sure how their relationship worked and how the magic worked. I also wondered what the veil that seemed to separate Jeremy from his two brothers.

This is an intriguing story and one I’m glad I read. I want to know where the next book might take me. Give this story a try.

Filed Under: Reviews, Romance, Science Fiction/Fantasy Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

Blood on the Chesapeake by Randy Overbeck

August 5, 2019 By Leave a Comment


Blood on the Chesapeake by Randy Overbeck
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Genre: Mystery/Suspense, Paranormal, Contemporary
Length: Full Length (410 pages)
Rated: 5 stars
Reviewed by Snapdragon

Wilshire, Maryland, a quaint shore town on the Chesapeake, promises Darrell Henshaw a new start in life and a second chance at love. That is, until he learns the town hides an ugly secret. A thirty-year-old murder in the high school. And a frightening ghost stalking his new office. Burned by an earlier encounter with the spirit world, Darrell doesn’t want to get involved, but when the desperate ghost hounds him, he concedes. Assisted by his new love, he follows a trail that leads to the civil rights movement, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and even the Klu Klux Klan. Then, when two locals who try to help are murdered, Darrell is forced to decide if he’s willing to risk his life—and the life of the woman he loves—to expose the killers of a young man he never knew.

Mr. Overbeck’s Mystery Blood on the Chesapeake offers far more than an intriguing mystery. It’s an amazingly complex, detailed novel that offers well-developed characters, a stunning backdrop, and an unpredictable story line.

Darrell is a very human, flawed main character, who happens to have a sense of the spirit world. And a need to right a wrong. Part of him might regret involvement…as well as involving his girlfriend. He might want to focus on all that is right in the world, as well as the beauty of Maryland’s shoreline. Its easy for readers to find themselves savoring the details of sailing, and enjoying the picturesque setting.

Yet, there is a ghostly presence that so wants justice for a murder. And, this is no minor ‘wrong’- it’s from an important point in history. We find ourselves intrigued by the circumstances; and soon realize, though the initial crime was years ago, the danger is still very much present today. The building tension makes this into something of a thriller.

‘Haunting’ is the right word for this mystery, in more ways than one! 5 stars and truly a page turner.

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Yokai Magic by Margaret L. Carter

July 24, 2019 By Leave a Comment


Yokai Magic by Margaret L. Carter
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Genre: Contemporary, Paranormal
Length: Short Story (113 pgs)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 4.5 stars
Reviewed by Dryas

When Val unearths a Japanese scroll and a cat figurine inherited from her grandfather, magic invades her world. The statuette, actually a cat spirit named Yuki—a yokai—enchanted into that form for her own protection, comes to life. Over a century ago, an evil magician cast a curse on her, and a wolf-like demon conjured by the curse still hunts her. Because Val is the one who broke the protective spell, that dark magic endangers her, too. She must turn for help to the last person she wants to get involved with, her former high-school boyfriend, now an officer in the Navy. Together they search for a way to vanquish the threat from the spirit realm, while facing the attraction they thought they’d long since put behind them.

Val was exploring in the basement of her house to find old artifacts that her grandfather had brought back from Korea. She was looking for items she could sell to afford fixing up her parents’ house. What she finds changes her life forever.

One of the objects was a Japanese good-luck cat with a red scarf. She also reveals a Japanese painted scroll that she had accidentally bled on while opening it. On the scroll was drawn a shrine with the same good-luck cat and in the background of a misty form of a woman over a river. Then the cat became alive stating that she was placed in the scroll for her own protection. The cat is what is called a Yokai, a Japanese Spirit. Her name is Yuki and she served a minor Kami (god) for the small stream that flowed by the shrine.

A man named Hiroshi often came to pray to the kami. He was a magic user and a great painter who fell in love with Yuki. He was the one who painted the picture and made her into a statue for her protection. What Val didn’t expect was to start seeing Yokai everywhere.

Val is a wonderfully developed character who rolls with the punches that life has thrown her way. I admired how she took the fact that she has magic infused in her house without screaming in panic and running away. She is a woman full of honor, wanting to keep those around her safe. For example, she keeps the scroll that Yuki is attached to, which is how other Yokai find Val’s house. Yuki had informed Val that she should place the scroll in another place. Val had disagreed as she was getting to know Yuki as a sister of sorts. Val has one major flaw. She tends to not deal with facing the choices that would allow her to move on in her life.

The plot was very enjoyable and rather different. I always enjoyed learning about a different culture. The novel teaches about different yokai and other legends. I would love to learn more but this was well done. There are no places where the plots skip around. The first plot is keeping Yuki safe, and the second one is the developing relationship between Val and Thad. They become closer to each other every day to figure how to get her house back to normal.

There are a few things I think could have been changed. For example, Thad takes the fact that Val has supernatural creatures around her house and speaking cat in stride. Val was the same way, taking the whole matter in stride. To me, most people would take a while to absorb everything. The conflict resolution happened a little too quickly and easily. I would have liked to see more of a fight along with making it harder to find the information they needed to get rid of the evil.

Altogether this is a wonderful read that is hard to put down. The characters and culture catch the reader’s imagination.

Filed Under: Reviews, Romance Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Rescued By A Mountain Man by Marin Black

July 10, 2019 By Leave a Comment


Rescued By A Mountain Man by Marin Black
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Short story (48 pages)
Other: M/F
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Fern

Desperate for an escape, Jae Copeland takes a solo kayaking trip into the lush wilderness of the Smoky Mountains. When she ends up stranded and soggy, she makes camp and hopes to avoid dangerous, wild animals. She should have been more worried about dangerous, wild humans, but she’s both alarmed and thrilled when Hanson Sykes, a fellow kayaker, happens upon her. He’s an experienced mountain man…and sexy as hell.

The sparks between them light up the uninhabited darkness, because survival in the mountains isn’t his only talent. He knows exactly how to touch her in ways that make her burn.

Jae had gone kayaking on the river to prove her ex-boyfriends parting comments – that she was worthless – were wrong. Instead, the larger than expected rapids broke her kayak and she finds herself stranded in the mountains. Luckily, her makeshift camp is found by Hanson, who was out camping. They share food and Hanson helps Jae out with his experience of the area. The attraction between them in instant, can one wild night turn into more?

I found this to be a fun and sexy short story. I enjoyed how even with things turn pear-shaped for Jae she didn’t get down on herself or let the bad situation ruin her efforts and mood. I found her reactions modern and relatable – determined to do things herself and do her best and her attitude was mostly positive, despite the specter of her horrid ex-boyfriend hovering for a while.

I also enjoyed how the romance built quickly between Jae and Hanson. While Jae didn’t just jump into Hanson’s arms – she had a few perfectly natural doubts and questions about getting intimate with a virtual stranger – the chemistry and discussion between the two soon put them both at ease and the sizzle between them turned erotic. I can understand this might be very fast for some readers – but with the short length of the story and the impulse of the moment I feel the author did a really good job with the parameters given. I also thought the chemistry and desire between Jae and Hanson was believable and well written.

Steamy and adventurous, I enjoyed this quick short story. While I feel the story had more of a Happy For Now style of ending than a more traditional Happy Ever After overall I found it fun, light and a sexy read.

Filed Under: Erotic Romance, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Southern Rose by Lily Bly

June 28, 2019 By Leave a Comment


Southern Rose by Lily Bly
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Genre: Historical
Length: Short Story (21 pgs)
Other: M/F
Rating: 3.5 stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

Rose O’Conner is a Confederate spy trapped among Union officers as the Civil War ends. When a Yankee from her past learns her secret, what is she willing to do to make him keep it?

Over the past year, Captain Grant Franks has searched for the alluring woman who stole his heart. When he learns she is a spy, will his dedication to the Union hold up against his desire for his Southern Rose?

Quick, delightful and hot.

I knew when I picked up this story it was short. I knew it would fill maybe half an hour. I got what I wanted–short and hot.

The writing is good–it kept me wanting to read. I had to know what would happen to the characters. I liked the opposites attract angle of the story–he’s from the north and she’s from the south. She’s a spy and he’s an officer. It’s hot.

That said, this book is fast. The writing is fast. The story is fast. I almost had to reread to keep up. It’s good because it’s a great lunch time read, but bad if you, like me, wanted more backstory. The characters are fascinating, but it’s like one snippet of their life. What happened in Albany? I wanted to see more connection between them before.

Don’t get me wrong. I liked this story and will read more by this author. Southern Rose is fun, fast and satisfying for a short read. Pick it up.

Filed Under: Erotic Romance, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , , ,
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